Hand tool for separating threadedtogether articles



J. MINTZ May 26, 1964 HAND TOOL. FOR SEPARATING THREADED-TOGETHER ARTICLES Filed. NOV. 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm mm INVENTOR. Juuus MINTZ ATTORNEY J. MINTZ May 26, 1964 HAND TOOL FOR SEFARATING THREADED-TOGETHER ARTICLES Filed NOV. 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JULIUS MINTZ ATTORNEY e 3,134,281 1C Patented May 26, 1964 3,134,281 HAND TOOL FOR SEPARATING Til-BEADED- TOGETHER ARTICLES Julius Mint, 2345 Walton Ave, Bronx, N31. Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 234,627 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-344) The present invention relates primarily to hand tools and more particularly to a hand tool adapted to facilitate the separation of two articles which may be threaded or otherwise coupled or connected together by firmly and separately grasping the two articles and rotating one with respect to the other. Examples of the use of a tool of the present invention is in removing a top or cover from threaded engagement with a jar or other container, removing a nut threaded in a bolt, removing a pipe fitting from the threaded end of a pipe or in disengaging any two articles where rotation of one with respect to the other is required to effect the disengagement.

The device of the present invention comprises a hand operated tool having two pairs of aligned plier-like jaws and a single pair of operating handles. The tool is adapted on movement of the handles to close both pairs of jaws and grip articles therein and thereafter for one of the pairs of jaws to rotate with respect to the other so as, for example, to unthread a pair of threaded-together articles.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a hand tool having two pairs of jaws arranged in superimposed relation and adapted to grip axially aligned and coupled articles and rotate the same in opposite directions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above type wherein the two pairs of jaws operate as pliers.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above type having a pair of handles which when actuated first cause the two pairs of jaws to close against the articles therebetween and then further actuation of the handles cause the jaws to rotate about the axis of the articles grasped thereby in opposite directions.

Another still further object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool having the above features which is easy and convenient to operate and which is relatively easy and cheap to manufacture.

The above and further objects and features of the present invention will be more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in the latter of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the hand tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a top plan view of the hand tool; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective View of the hand tool.

Referring now to the drawings, the tool of the present invention which is fabricated from suitable metal by conventional processes includes a pair of spaced apart handles indicated generally by reference numerals 11 and 12. The hand gripping surfaces of the handles are slightly curved and knurled as at 13 to facilitate grasping and operation of the tool. As best shown in FIG. 3 the handles 11 and 12 have formed integrally at their right hand ends bifurcated sections 14 and 15 respectively. Pivotally mounted on pins 16 and 17, extending through respective bifurcated sections 14 and 15 are the left hand end of links 18 and 19 respectively. The bifurcated sections 14 and 15 and the links 18 and 19 are so arranged, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that in the normal condition of the tool, the link 19 overlies the bifurcated section 14 and the bifurcated section 15 overlies the link 18.

Arranged to pivot on the upper end of pin 16 and the lower end of pin 17, FIG. 3, are a pair of similar superimposed flat members 21 and 22 respectively. The left hand ends of the members 21 and 22 are joined together for pivoting movement with respect to one another by a pivot pin 23. The members 21 and 22 have on opposite side surfaces thereof notches 24 and 25 respectively which are adapted to engage opposite ends of a partially coiled leaf spring 26. The ends of the spring 26 and the notches 24 and 25 are so arranged that the spring tends to maintain the two members 21 and 22 in alignment, one over the other with the pin 20 extending from the member 21 seated in the notch 30 in the member 22. In this position of the two members the two pins 16 and'17 are in substantial axial alignment. Shoulders 27 at the left hand ends of the members 21 and 22 retain the spring in position.

The right hand end of each of the handles 11 and 12 and the right hand end of their associated links 18 and 19 each have pivotallyattached thereto by means of pivot pins or rivets 28, the left hand ends of a pair of plierlike jaw members 29 and 31. The jaw members of each pair are pivoted on pivots 32 and the members 29 are offset at the pivot so that the jaw ends of the members of each pair are in common planes. The inner surfaces of each jaw pair are toothed or notched as at 33 to facilitate gripping of articles therebetween. It will be noted that the teeth 33 of each jaw pair slope in opposite directions for reasons hereinafter apparent.

The pivot pin 32 of the upper jaw pair extends downward through a spacer 34 and pivotally carries at its lower end a member 36. The member 36 has a pivot pin 37 at its left hand end upon which is pivoted a similar member 38. At its right hand end the member 38 pivots above a spacer 39 on the upwardly extending end of the pivot 28 of the lower jaw pair. Notches 41 and 42 on opposite edges of the members 36 and 38 respectively are adapted to be engaged by tabs on the ends of a partially coiled leaf spring 43. The spring 43 tends to maintain the two members one over the other with the pins 28 at their right hand ends in axial alignment. The two members 36 and 38 together with the spring 43 are arranged in substantially the same manner as the members 21 and 22 and the spring 26.

In the use of the tool of the presentinvention, the handles 11 and 12 may be pressed together to cause through the described linkages further opening of the jaw pairs and during this movement the pins 16 and 17 and the pins 32 remain in alignment. then be placed on the two articles it is desired to separate by unthreading the same. The handles are then moved in a spreading apart direction which first causes the two pairs of jaws to close and grip the articles there between. Thereupon further movement of the handles in a spreading direction causes the upper pair of jaws or those associated with the handle 12 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the lower pair of jaws or those associated with the handle 11 with the articles gripped as the center of rotation. During such relative rotation of the jaw pairs the members 21 and 22 pivot in opposite directions about the pin 23 and against the action of the spring 26, and the members 36 and 38 likewise pivot in opposite directions about their pivot pin 37 and. against the action of spring 43. Thus the article, such as a jar cap, gripped by the upper pair of jaws 29 and 31 will be turned with respect to the article, such as a jar, gripped by the lower pair of jaws to thereby unloosen the cap from the jar. With the two sets of jaws gripping aligned articles the distance the handles 11 and 12 can be separated is limited by the length of the flat members 21 and 22 which is suflicient to give The jaws may the desired relative rotation of one pair of jaws with respect to the other.

The release of the handles 11 and 12 after operating in the above manner enables the two pairs of jaws to open under the influence of the springs 26 and 4-3 and release whatever had been gripped therebetween and the operating handles to return to their normal position. Threupon the operation of the tool can be repeated as many times as desired or necessary to further loosen or unthread one if the articles with respect to the other.

From the above description of the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that the present invention provides a tool of novel construction and operation that is extremely useful in separating threaded articles one from another.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that various modifications and changes can be made in the tool Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be placed thereon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hand tool of the type described, said tool having two pairs of separable plier-like jaws arranged to grippingly close on a common axis, a pair of operating handles, linkages between each operating handle and one of said pair of jaws and means including said linkages on the operation of said handles to first close said jaws to grip articles therebetween and thereafter rotate one of said pair of jaws with respect to the other pair of jaws.

2. In a hand tool of the type described, said tool having two pairs of separable plier-like jaws arranged to grippingly close on a common axis, a pair of operating handles, linkages between each operating handle and one of said pairs of jaws and means including said linkages on the operation of one of said handles in a first direction with respect to the other handle to open said pairs of jaws and on the operation of said handle in a second and opposite direction with respect to said other handle to close said jaws to grip respective articles therebetween and whereupon further movement of said handle is said last mentioned direction rotates one of said pair of jaws with respect to the other about the axis of the articles gripped by said jaws.

3. A hand tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first direction of movement of one of said handles is toward the other handle and said second direction of movement of said handle is away from said other handle.

4. In a hand tool, two pair of separable pl'ier-like jaws arranged in superimposed relation one pair above the other and adapted to open and close by action of one jaw of each pair pivoting about a common axis, a single operating handle. for each of said pair of jaws, linkages between each pair of jaws and said handles, and means including said handles and said linkages on the operation of said handles in a spreading apart direction to first close said pairs of jaws to grip respective articles therebetween and thereafter rotate one pair of jaws with respect to the other pair about an axis through the jaw sections thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Girard Oct. 13, 1936 

1. IN A HAND TOOL OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED, SAID TOOL HAVING TWO PAIRS OF SEPARABLE PLIER-LIKE JAWS ARRANGED TO GRIPPINGLY CLOSE ON A COMMON AXIS, A PAIR OF OPERATING HANDLES, LINKAGES BETWEEN EACH OPERATING HANDLE AND ONE OF SAID PAIR OF JAWS AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID LINKAGES ON THE OPERATION OF SAID HANDLES TO FIRST CLOSE SAID JAWS TO GRIP ARTICLES THEREBETWEEN AND THEREAFTER ROTATE ONE OF SAID PAIR OF JAWS WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER PAIR OF JAWS. 